Voice of a leader

Cade Mendoza sometimes wonders where he’d be in life if he didn’t make a conscious decision to take a different path.

It’s not that the Coeur d’Alene High senior was a trouble-making kid in the sixth grade. It’s just that he had an opportunity to move in a direction destined for trouble.

“I could have taken a bad path,” Mendoza said. “I could have hung around a bad element. But I chose better friends.”

Mendoza admits he’s had a lot to overcome in life. He stands as a tribute to his family.

His coaches know it, too.

“He decided early in his high school career that he was going to succeed academically and athletically. He’s willed himself to succeed,” Coeur d’Alene head coach Shawn Amos said.

Mendoza is a two-year starter at free safety and also is starting this season at wide receiver. He’s had an impact on both sides of the line of scrimmage, but more so on defense.

“He’s the undisputed voice of our defense,” Amos said. “He is our leader on defense. He makes sure everybody is in the right spot.”

At free safety, he’s the quarterback on defense. He’s certainly the last player who can make a play if something breaks down.

“I like defense but the glory is on offense,” Mendoza said, smiling. “I love playing both offense and defense. I like free safety probably the most because nobody game plans for your position.”

It’s a vital position, though.

“He’s a guy I put a lot of trust in,” said Jeff Vesser, the Vikings’ secondary coach. “He’s our eyes and ears on the field – our vocal leader. He’s definitely a success story.”

His best play at free safety came late against Moses Lake. He had a win-preserving interception, ripping the ball out of a receiver’s hands when Moses Lake was driving for a game-winning touchdown.

“Every play he brings a presence,” Amos said. “He’s so reliable. He’s one of those guys who almost never make a mistake. Sometimes those guys blend in, but we know how important he is.”

Mendoza has grown into an impact player. As a freshman, he remembers being about 5-foot-2 and 120 pounds.

“Without the weight room, he’s about 110 pounds,” Amos said.

Mendoza is 5-9 and 165 pounds today.

“He’s grown into a physical kid, and he’s unafraid of contact,” Amos said.

“I was so small as a freshman,” Mendoza said. “The weight room has been huge for me.”

So has track. Amos, who coaches sprinters, made Mendoza turn out as a sophomore. Last year he qualified for state in the 100 meters and ran a leg on the 800 relay.

“I pulled his ear and said, ‘Come run,’ ” Amos said. “He didn’t have a choice.”

Mendoza realizes that speed training from track has made him a better football player.

“I didn’t want to run track initially,” Mendoza said. “But he (Amos) told me I had to. By doing track I felt like I was a little ahead of the curve for summer camp and training.”

Mendoza, who carries a 3.56 grade-point average, wants to play football in college. But if an opportunity doesn’t arise, he still plans on continuing his education.

“I want to be a teacher and a coach,” he said. “I want to help people like I’ve been helped. I’ve been inspired by my coaches. I see that they like helping people and they enjoy it. I really want to be something in life. One of my biggest fears is not being successful, not being happy in life.”

It’s a night-and-day difference in football this year over last season. Coeur d’Alene finished a disappointing 3-6 last year. The Viks came into this week with a 4-1 mark.

“I’m a very competitive person, and I hate losing more than anything,” Mendoza said. “Last year was so tough. We worked hard, but we weren’t together as a team. This year it’s really a team. We care about each other.”

Mendoza likes the team’s potential.

“Last year we thought we could be a good team, too, but thinking doesn’t get it done,” he said. “We can be very good. It takes preparation and we’re working hard.”

Amos often asks his players a question about their commitment to the team.

“Who do you want holding the rope if you’re hanging off a cliff?” Amos said. “Cade’s the guy. He’s not going to let go of the rope.”